True Pro on and off the soccer field
Manyoro a real winner and also inspirational
Born: August 22 1954
Died: May 17 2017 Funeral: Sunday, at Chiawelo Community Centre in Soweto Burial: Olifantsvlei Cemetery, Johannesburg
The late Joseph Manyoro lived for football. His illustrious football journey began at Tshilidzi Primary School in Chiawelo, Soweto, and ended at the professional level.
Manyoro played for Benoni United, alias “The Rabbits”, in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in the 1980s.
The former star defender died at his home in Chiawelo last week Wednesday after a short illness. He was 62.
Manyoro was affectionately called “Pro” for the manner in which he commanded the defences from his amateur days.
Township football was huge during Manyoro’s youth and he and his peers played in tournaments which were held during school holidays around Soweto.
It was during these tournaments where he was spotted by The Rabbits. He became a Rabbit in 1977, a few years after completing his matric at Sekano Ntoane High in Senaoane, Soweto.
He had begun his secondary education at Mambo Secondary School in Chiawelo.
Manyoro endeared himself to myriad United’s loyalists almost immediately after joining the East Rand side, thanks to his reliability at the back.
He inspired many players at the team, including Samuel “Happy Cow” Mnkomo, who would turn out to be one of the revered players in the top flight in the 1980s.
“Pro is the reason I joined Benoni United. Watching him play was enough motivation for me. He also handled himself with dignity off the pitch. He was a true professional,” Mnkomo said.
Ex-Witbank Black Aces forward Richard “Rio” Mkhabela said he cherished every moment he spent with Manyoro.
“I learnt a great deal from him. He always told me not to give up when things were not going my way,” Mkhabela said.
“He also reminded me to go the extra mile in whatever I was doing. I was a good player in my day, partly thanks to Pro.”
Manyoro’s daughter Smangele said her father was “a true leader and a winner”.
“Failure was never part of his vocabulary. He led from behind at Benoni United and later became a successful coach.
“Football was his life, he was born to be a footballer. Even ill health did not preclude him from motivating youngsters in our area,” Smangele said.
Manyoro ended his professional career at Casio Dynamos. He then joined Carletonville-based De Beers FC as head coach. He also worked as a salesman for different companies in Johannesburg such as Sharp, Phillips and Nestlé.
He was the only son and the third born child of the late Jim and Phophi Manyoro. He is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren and three sisters.